Self-Test

Self-Test for Men

Self-Test for Men

These questions are adapted from a variety of sources and draw heavily on the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised developed by Patrick Carnes and the self-test used by Sexaholics Anonymous. To complete the test, make note of each “yes” answer and tally that number after you’ve gone through all the questions.

1. Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?

2. Have you subscribed or regularly purchased/rented sexually explicit magazines or videos?

3. Did your parents have trouble with their sexual or romantic behaviors?

4. Do you often find yourself preoccupied with sexual thoughts?

5. Has your use of phone sex lines, computer sex lines, etc. exceeded your ability to pay for these services?

9. Do you keep the extent or nature of your sexual activities hidden from your friends and/or partners? (not related to sexual orientation)

10. Do you look forward to events with friends or family being over so that you can go out to have sex?

11. Do you visit sexual bath houses, sex clubs and/or video bookstores as a regular part of your sexual activity?

12. Do you believe that anonymous or casual sex has kept you from having more long-term intimate relationships or from reaching other personal goals?

13. Do you have trouble maintaining intimate relationships once the “sexual newness” of the person has worn off?

14. Do your sexual encounters place you in danger of arrest for lewd conduct or public indecency?

15. Are you HIV positive, yet continue to engage in risky or unsafe sexual behavior?

16. Has anyone ever been hurt emotionally by events related to your sexual behavior, e.g., lying to partner or friends, not showing up for event/appointment due to sexual liaisons, etc.? (not related to sexual orientation)

17. Have you ever been approached charged, arrested by the police, security, etc. due to sexual activity in a public place?

18. Have you ever been sexual with a minor?

19. When you have sex, do you feel depressed afterwards?

20. Have you made repeated promises to yourself to change some form of your sexual activity only to break them later? (not related to sexual orientation)

21. Have your sexual activities interfered with some aspect of your professional or personal life, e.g., unable to perform at work, loss of relationship? (not related to sexual orientation)

22. Have you engaged in unsafe or “risky” sexual practices even though you knew it could cause you harm?

23. Have you ever paid for sex?

24. Have you ever had sex with someone just because you were feeling aroused and later felt ashamed or regretted it?

Remember that no self-test can absolutely and accurately determine the nature of your problem or the solution. This is simply a screening device that can be helpful in deciding whether you need help. Feelings of concern, shame or fear created by answering these questions may indicate the need to contact a professional for guidance. Checking off several items usually indicates a need to address these issues, and you might benefit from a Healing for Men workshop.

Here’s a general scale to help measure your score:

1-3 “yes’ answers: Your sexual behavior may be an area of concern. You might consider openly discussing this issue with a safe person.

3-10 “yes” answers: Based on your responses, you may benefit by seeking help from a professional to determine if you have a problem with sexual addiction Visit the First Steps and Resources sections of the website for more direction.

10-13 “yes” answers: Scoring within this range may mean that you have done some things you regret or it may mean that you are in the early stage of addiction. Based on your responses, you would benefit by seeking help from appropriate resources. Visit the First Steps and Resources sections of the website for more direction.

More than 13 “yes” answers: If you marked over 13 affirmative answers your responses parallel others who have been found to be sexually addicted. A high score indicates a need to further explore possible sexual addiction with a professional clinician. Consider attending a Healing for Men workshop and visit the First Steps and Resources sections of the website for more information.

Self-Test for Women

Self-Test for Women

These questions are adapted from the Women’s Sexual Addiction Screen Test (W-SAST) develped by Sharon O’Hara and Patrick Carnes and the self-test used by Sexaholics Anonymous.

To complete the test, note any “yes” responses and add up the total number after you’ve gone through all the questions.

1. Have you ever thought you needed help for your sexual behavior or thinking?

2. Have you ever tried to stop or limit what you felt was wrong in your sexual or relationship behavior?

3. Do you use sex to escape, relieve anxiety, or as a coping mechanism?

4. Do you feel guilt, remorse, or depression afterward?

5. Has your pursuit of sex or a particular relationship become more compulsive?

6. Does it interfere with relations with your spouse?

7. Do you have to resort to fantasies or memories during sex in order to be aroused or satisfied?

8. Do you keep going from one relationship or lover to another?

9. Do you feel the right person would help you stop lusting, masturbating, or being so promiscuous?

10. Do you have a destructive need – a desperate sexual or emotional need for someone?

11. Does the pursuit of sex or a relationship make you careless for yourself or the welfare of your family or others?

12. Has your effectiveness or concentration decreased as sex or a relationship has become more compulsive?

13. Have you experienced negative consequences as a result of your sexual or relational behavior?

14. Are you depressed?

15. Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?

If you wonder if you may need help, you probably do. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions – especially to several of them – you could benefit from the Bethesda Healing for Women Workshop either to address a full-blown problem or to prevent one from developing. Visit the First Steps and Resources sections of the website for more information about how to proceed.